Category:
Children – Ages 6 -9
Purpose:
In this mini game children will learn to protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases
Game Objective:
Help protect a group of characters (cute monkeys, fantasy creatures, blobs?) on planet Bima from the annoying buzzing alien critters called "Maduru". As a superhero you can do any of the following to protect the characters:
• Use Tools (magic protective spray, maduru nets, special clothing, insecticides (not sure about this one!)
• Perform specific actions (swat the maduru, empty containers that breed maduru larvae around the garden etc)
Your objective is to avoid being sent to hospital if you get too many little neon green dots on you. (To avoid making kids feel bad the ambulance should just show up and the ‘bitten kid’ hops into the ambulance and waves good bye?)
There could be some type of a point system used each time a character is ‘’protected” by using a tool or you swat a maduru. Actions that are proactive (emptying containers with water etc) could be awarded higher points because if you do not do these things more maduru are born.
Extension Activities
• Children could create an avatar of themselves as the super hero (could upload a photo of their face?) that helps battle the maduru
• When online students could read more about mosquito-borne diseases, life cycle of a mosquito etc
• Post information about what they are doing in their villages/communities about this along with photos (this would obviously be for older students)
Other notes
- Kids should figure out the game intuitively by exploration with no verbal or textual instructions
Aligned to the following MDG’s:
Goal 3 – empowering both young girls and boys by giving them a sense of control in the game
Goal 4 – learn basic hygiene and sanitation
Goal 6 – learn how to combat malaria, dengue, chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases
Goal 2 – learns basic math skills
Apologies if this is too long - I was trying to keep it short but detailed enough so others could comment on it ! :)
Comments
Great Idea
This is a cool idea. Thanks for providing info on how you find the game linking to the Goals. I see two options with a game like this:
1. Make this one game of several that taken as a whole teach about all the goals
2. Expand the game so that it has more elements that encompass the goals.
I think either option could be great. I like the idea of several smaller games fitting into a unified gaming framework, because some kids my not respond to one game, but might to others.
Thanks
Thanks for the feedback, Jason.
I was really trying to keep in mind the constraints of the laptop and the user group and felt a mini game would work better.
I like option 1 - I think a series of smaller games which taken as a whole teach about all the goals may work better because of the usability and cognitive challenges you face with this age group (ages 6). And you're right, not all kids will respond to a game in the same way.
overarching
cool idea, but how would the idea be the umbrella for the other mini games on the MDGs?
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